Turbo trainer or exercise bike
Discussion
Hello Ladies and Gents,
I haven't manage to get out on my bike much in the last two years and I am now a lot bigger than I'd like.
For a budget of £100 (I'd actually prefer it to be half that) would you go for a turbo trainer or exercise bike?
I'd want it to be nice and quiet.
Current bike is a 29er hardtail if that makes a difference.
Thanks Andrew.
I haven't manage to get out on my bike much in the last two years and I am now a lot bigger than I'd like.
For a budget of £100 (I'd actually prefer it to be half that) would you go for a turbo trainer or exercise bike?
I'd want it to be nice and quiet.
Current bike is a 29er hardtail if that makes a difference.
Thanks Andrew.
Turbo every time.
Better action, smaller, presumably more comfortable as it's your own saddle, and better resale for when you get bored of it. Preferably a fluid one so just use your bike gears to change resistance.
Sub £100 aren't great so imagine how bad a sub £100 bike will be.
Also need a big fan, and a form of entertainment or motivation.
Try this https://thesufferfest.com/
Without a specific goal or program to follow you are unlikely to persist.
You got a Pure Gym near by? Probably better value at £20/month, loads of free classes especially spinning ones.
Better action, smaller, presumably more comfortable as it's your own saddle, and better resale for when you get bored of it. Preferably a fluid one so just use your bike gears to change resistance.
Sub £100 aren't great so imagine how bad a sub £100 bike will be.
Also need a big fan, and a form of entertainment or motivation.
Try this https://thesufferfest.com/
Without a specific goal or program to follow you are unlikely to persist.
You got a Pure Gym near by? Probably better value at £20/month, loads of free classes especially spinning ones.
I can relate to your dilemma, I try and exercise out of a bad diet (I know it's a crap idea) but due to various issues I've not shifted my winter weight over summer so now faced with adding a bit more to it... 
I've toyed with the idea of an exercise bike (the sheer number of them available second hand shows they are not the solution, rollers are an accident waiting to happen, and a good turbo plus all the 'extras' is more than a winter gym membership, so I'm biting the bullet and signing up with PureGym for the winter, only issue is my local one is right next door to Pizza Hut.
I've toyed with the idea of an exercise bike (the sheer number of them available second hand shows they are not the solution, rollers are an accident waiting to happen, and a good turbo plus all the 'extras' is more than a winter gym membership, so I'm biting the bullet and signing up with PureGym for the winter, only issue is my local one is right next door to Pizza Hut.
Hello Guys,
Thanks for all the replies.
The Pure Gym idea is probably the best route to go but I know I'll never make it down there.
My wife and I are working weird shifts to both work full time and look after our boy without having to use Childcare. This only leaves around an hour a day so something I can use at home might actually get used.
Come Feb he'll be going to Nursery a couple of times a week and spare time will exist again so Pure Gym might be the way forward then.
I work at a desk at home so when I'm not on calls (about 40% of the working day) I could use one of those under desk pedal things. Are they a completely rubbish idea?
Thanks, Andrew.
Thanks for all the replies.
The Pure Gym idea is probably the best route to go but I know I'll never make it down there.
My wife and I are working weird shifts to both work full time and look after our boy without having to use Childcare. This only leaves around an hour a day so something I can use at home might actually get used.
Come Feb he'll be going to Nursery a couple of times a week and spare time will exist again so Pure Gym might be the way forward then.
I work at a desk at home so when I'm not on calls (about 40% of the working day) I could use one of those under desk pedal things. Are they a completely rubbish idea?
Thanks, Andrew.
Like all these things, the benefit is more likely to be derived from persistence than anything else
Unpacking a turbo trainer, setting it up, using it a few times and then dusting it once a week isn't going to have OP shedding kg's and pushing up his VO2 max
If OP can seriously only find a slot for an hour a day of exercise then I would say using that hour to walk briskly is likely to be more beneficial and easier to keep up than wrestling with a c. £100 turbo trainer with a MTB on it or a £100 exercise bike.
Unpacking a turbo trainer, setting it up, using it a few times and then dusting it once a week isn't going to have OP shedding kg's and pushing up his VO2 max
If OP can seriously only find a slot for an hour a day of exercise then I would say using that hour to walk briskly is likely to be more beneficial and easier to keep up than wrestling with a c. £100 turbo trainer with a MTB on it or a £100 exercise bike.
JPJPJP said:
Like all these things, the benefit is more likely to be derived from persistence than anything else
Unpacking a turbo trainer, setting it up, using it a few times and then dusting it once a week isn't going to have OP shedding kg's and pushing up his VO2 max
If OP can seriously only find a slot for an hour a day of exercise then I would say using that hour to walk briskly is likely to be more beneficial and easier to keep up than wrestling with a c. £100 turbo trainer with a MTB on it or a £100 exercise bike.
Leave your bike attached to it. Takes me about 5 minutes to get ready to get on the turbo if bike is already in it. Think the walking thing is fine, but you're going to get more value from the turbo, turn the walk to a run and maybe that's better.Unpacking a turbo trainer, setting it up, using it a few times and then dusting it once a week isn't going to have OP shedding kg's and pushing up his VO2 max
If OP can seriously only find a slot for an hour a day of exercise then I would say using that hour to walk briskly is likely to be more beneficial and easier to keep up than wrestling with a c. £100 turbo trainer with a MTB on it or a £100 exercise bike.
I agree, and since getting my wahoo and zwift, I am a very regular user and have the 'getting ready' part down to a T
But for OP, who has already managed to avoid doing much cycling for 2 years and needs a quiet turbo trainer for £100, I just don't think it is going to work that way.
All credit to him if does get one (that £50 one from Aldi for instance) and does regularly and frequently use it.
The benefit that could be gained from a 1 hour session a few days per week is enormous - as you say, far more than walking / jogging and a standing up desk (which everyone should have imo)
Let us know what you end up doing OP and, whatever you do, go into it with a bit of JFDI attitude
But for OP, who has already managed to avoid doing much cycling for 2 years and needs a quiet turbo trainer for £100, I just don't think it is going to work that way.
All credit to him if does get one (that £50 one from Aldi for instance) and does regularly and frequently use it.
The benefit that could be gained from a 1 hour session a few days per week is enormous - as you say, far more than walking / jogging and a standing up desk (which everyone should have imo)
Let us know what you end up doing OP and, whatever you do, go into it with a bit of JFDI attitude
For something quiet you will need a fluid turbo.
I have one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastoge... and for under £100 it is an absolute bargain.
I have one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastoge... and for under £100 it is an absolute bargain.
I stopped making excuses and went for a run (jog) today. Not a long one (2.7km) but better than just sitting here eating biscuits.
That Crono looks great based on the reviews. If I find the jogging is too painful on the knees, I'll go with that one. Thanks!
I realised that my need for quietness isn't that important. I was thinking I could sit on it pedalling away whilst on Conference calls and the like but I'd soon get busted so not worth it.
That Crono looks great based on the reviews. If I find the jogging is too painful on the knees, I'll go with that one. Thanks!
I realised that my need for quietness isn't that important. I was thinking I could sit on it pedalling away whilst on Conference calls and the like but I'd soon get busted so not worth it.
That turbo does look good for the money.
However, assuming that your MTB has knobbly tyres on then I think that will make it loud by itself not to mention destroy the tyre.
Really you need a spare back wheel with a turbo tyre and cassette but that's probably another £100 right there unless you hate riding outside so much that you just put a turbo tyre on your normal wheel. This also comes with a guarantee that you will never ride outside again as the aggravation of changing the tyre each time is considerable.
Maybe worth a punt on one of these, much more adjustment than your regular bike and takes up less room than a bike on a turbo:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IC200-Indoor-Cycling-Exe...
If you get a £20 set of dumbells and a foam mat then there are plenty of circuit training videos on youtube that will reduce you to a gibbering wreck within 30 minutes.
Variety is key, try alternating between run/turbo/circuits for 6 days and try and get out for an hour on the road at the weekend. Fit as a butchers dog in no time. Is there a parkrun near you? All sorts of cheap options.
However, assuming that your MTB has knobbly tyres on then I think that will make it loud by itself not to mention destroy the tyre.
Really you need a spare back wheel with a turbo tyre and cassette but that's probably another £100 right there unless you hate riding outside so much that you just put a turbo tyre on your normal wheel. This also comes with a guarantee that you will never ride outside again as the aggravation of changing the tyre each time is considerable.
Maybe worth a punt on one of these, much more adjustment than your regular bike and takes up less room than a bike on a turbo:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IC200-Indoor-Cycling-Exe...
If you get a £20 set of dumbells and a foam mat then there are plenty of circuit training videos on youtube that will reduce you to a gibbering wreck within 30 minutes.
Variety is key, try alternating between run/turbo/circuits for 6 days and try and get out for an hour on the road at the weekend. Fit as a butchers dog in no time. Is there a parkrun near you? All sorts of cheap options.
AndyDRZ said:
I stopped making excuses and went for a run (jog) today. Not a long one (2.7km) but better than just sitting here eating biscuits.
That Crono looks great based on the reviews. If I find the jogging is too painful on the knees, I'll go with that one. Thanks!
I realised that my need for quietness isn't that important. I was thinking I could sit on it pedalling away whilst on Conference calls and the like but I'd soon get busted so not worth it.
Well done on the runThat Crono looks great based on the reviews. If I find the jogging is too painful on the knees, I'll go with that one. Thanks!
I realised that my need for quietness isn't that important. I was thinking I could sit on it pedalling away whilst on Conference calls and the like but I'd soon get busted so not worth it.
I'm an old bloke so what I say may not apply.
Following a knee op, I realised that I HAD to get bending my knee (Broken patella tendon - in a cast for 6 weeks) so I bought an exercise bike, and hoping that I might actually use it to keep fit, I went for a substantial one with variable levels of magnetic resistance, and 'speed' and watts readout.
5 years on, I've now returned to cycling and get out at least three times a week. If I don't get out, I switch on the exercise bike and the radio, climb on and start my workout. It's just there so it's easy to use.
The cycling has improved as well. I don't imagine I'll ever get down to 22:58 for a '10' again, but that was 30 years ago when I was only 40. But the exercise bike gets used a lot, just because there's no setting up. Climb on, pedal and puff.
I've put mine in the garage - I get really sweaty and snotty!
Following a knee op, I realised that I HAD to get bending my knee (Broken patella tendon - in a cast for 6 weeks) so I bought an exercise bike, and hoping that I might actually use it to keep fit, I went for a substantial one with variable levels of magnetic resistance, and 'speed' and watts readout.
5 years on, I've now returned to cycling and get out at least three times a week. If I don't get out, I switch on the exercise bike and the radio, climb on and start my workout. It's just there so it's easy to use.
The cycling has improved as well. I don't imagine I'll ever get down to 22:58 for a '10' again, but that was 30 years ago when I was only 40. But the exercise bike gets used a lot, just because there's no setting up. Climb on, pedal and puff.
I've put mine in the garage - I get really sweaty and snotty!
I have the elite fluid Turbo mentioned above, and its great, pretty quiet, and unless you are a total power house, then the resistance in your gearing will more than suffice. The trick with it as mentioned above is, if you can, keep it setup, then its 5 minutes to hop on. I am trying to manage a morning and evening session at the moment, as I am seriously carrying a bit too much lard!
That an a combination of MyFitnessPal, give yourself some idea of what you are putting in, even if you don't diet, the realisation of what food stuffs are, makes a massive difference I find, and gives you an idea of what effort you need to make to offset any bad habits!
That an a combination of MyFitnessPal, give yourself some idea of what you are putting in, even if you don't diet, the realisation of what food stuffs are, makes a massive difference I find, and gives you an idea of what effort you need to make to offset any bad habits!
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